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Enhancing the student-athlete experience through #GivingTuesday at Wilkes-Barre

Enhancing the student-athlete experience through #GivingTuesday at Wilkes-Barre

November 15, 2018

Lehman, Pa. -- This #GivingTuesday, Penn State Wilkes-Barre will celebrate by raising funds for students and improving the athletic and recreation facilities, enhancing the student-athlete experience on campus.

#GivingTuesday is a global day of giving that harnesses the collective power of individuals, communities and organizations to encourage philanthropy and to celebrate generosity worldwide. Following Thanksgiving and the widely recognized shopping events Black Friday and Cyber Monday, this year’s #GivingTuesday will take place on Nov. 27 and will kick off the giving season by inspiring people to collaborate and give back.

Penn State Wilkes-Barre provides a safe environment for students to develop teamwork and leadership skills, as well as creating an opportunity for physical activity. The athletic department has identified several equipment needs that will help improve the student-athlete experience. At the top of that list is replacing sideline chairs in the gymnasium, utilized by teams, staff and visiting teams during sporting events. The current need is for 36 chairs and a storage rack, which would help keep the chairs in working condition for longer by protecting them when not in use.

“Each of our student-athletes gives a tremendous amount of time, effort and commitment to Penn State Wilkes-Barre,” explained Chancellor and Chief Academic Officer Dale Jones. “Strong community support to enhance their experience on our campus through the #GivingTuesday initiative is our way of showing them we commit to them just as wholeheartedly.”

Founded in 2012 by the 92nd Street Y – a community and cultural center in New York City − #GivingTuesday inspired millions of people to give back and support the causes they believe in. Over $300 million was raised online to benefit a tremendously broad range of organizations, and much more was given in volunteer hours, donations of food and clothing, and acts of kindness.

“We are incredibly inspired by the way the #GivingTuesday community has embraced this concept for a worldwide movement,” said Henry Timms, founder of #GivingTuesday and executive director of 92Y. “As we prepare for Nov. 27, we’re energized and encouraged by the community’s generosity. The levels of creativity, effort and the quality of the new ideas people have contributed and shared are phenomenal.”

Those who are interested in joining Penn State Wilkes-Barre’s #GivingTuesday initiative can visit ow.ly/tUOI30mnerk. For more details about the #GivingTuesday movement, visit the #GivingTuesday website, Facebook page, or follow @GivingTues and the #GivingTuesday hashtag on Twitter.

About Penn State Wilkes-Barre

Penn State Wilkes-Barre, located in Lehman, Pennsylvania, enrolls 460 undergraduate students and offers 13 associate and bachelor’s degree programs, including a baccalaureate degree in surveying engineering, the only location in the Commonwealth to do so. Penn State Wilkes-Barre’s faculty and staff reflect its values of academic excellence, a student-centered focus, ethics and integrity, community service, and inclusivity.